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TWENTY-FOURTH SPECIAL SESSION SENATE JOURNAL STATE OF ILLINOIS NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1ST LEGISLATIVE DAY WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2008 5:24 O'CLOCK P.M. NO. 1 [August 13, 2008] 2 SENATE Daily Journal Index 1st Legislative Day Action Page(s) Message from the Secretary of State ....................................................................3 Presentation of Senate Resolutions No’d. 1-3 ......................................................4 Proclamation of Governor....................................................................................3 Bill Number Legislative Action Page(s) SR 0001 Adopted ......................................................................................................................4 SR 0002 Adopted ......................................................................................................................5 SR 0003 Adopted ......................................................................................................................5 [August 13, 2008] 3 The Senate met pursuant to a proclamation from the Governor to convene Special Session. Honorable Emil Jones, Jr., President of the Senate, presiding. Prayer by Reverend Florene Scott, Grace United Methodist Church, Springfield, Illinois. Senator Maloney led the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE JESSE WHITE • Secretary of State August 6, 2008 Honorable Deborah Shipley Secretary of the Senate Room 401 State Capitol Building Springfield, Illinois 62706 Dear Secretary Shipley: Enclosed please find copies of Proclamation No. 2008-314 and 2008-315, filed in my office on August 5, 2008, by Governor Rod R. Blagojevich, calling for a Special Session of the 95th General Assembly, to begin at 3:00 p.m. on August 12, 2008 and 5:00 p.m. August 13, 2008. A notice and accompanying Proclamations have been mailed today to each Member’s office. Sincerely, s/Jesse White Secretary of State PROCLAMATION WHEREAS, it has been nearly nine years since the Illinois General Assembly has passed a comprehensive capital infrastructure plan; WHEREAS, a capital infrastructure plan will provide much needed resources into repairing and maintaining our State’s roads, bridges, and schools, will spur economic development, and create and support thousands of new jobs; WHEREAS, a capital infrastructure plan would further leverage additional federal and local funds for the State’s infrastructure needs; WHEREAS, on March 5, 2008, the Illinois Works Coalition was formed in order to engage a bipartisan working group which could draw expertise from business, labor, and local leaders across the State in order to focus attention and help pass a statewide capital infrastructure plan; WHEREAS, the Illinois Works Coalition convened meetings with legislative leaders and citizens across Illinois to discuss a comprehensive plan that could pass both chambers of the General Assembly; WHEREAS, on May 20, 2008, the Co-Chairs of the Illinois Works Coalition, former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Dennis Hastert and Southern Illinois University President Glenn Poshard, announced the Coalition’s recommendations for a $34 billion comprehensive capital infrastructure plan; [August 13, 2008] 4 WHEREAS, Illinois Senate President Emil Jones, Illinois Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson, Illinois House Minority Leader Tom Cross, numerous mayors, unions, and associations, and I have endorsed the $34 billion comprehensive capital infrastructure plan proposed by the Coalition; WHEREAS, the Illinois Senate has passed several bills which could fund the proposed capital infrastructure plan; WHEREAS, the Illinois House of Representatives has failed to act on legislation necessary to fund the capital infrastructure plan; WHEREAS, on July 31, 2008, the Illinois Works Coalition and I proposed a new $25 billion capital infrastructure plan, which eliminated the need for expanded gaming as a funding source, in response to concerns raised by certain House representatives; WHEREAS, the new proposed capital plan is supported by President Jones, Leader Watson, Leader Cross, and Co-Chairs of the Illinois Works Coalition, Speaker Hastert and President Poshard; WHEREAS, the new proposed capital plan contemplates investments of more than $14.4 billion in road projects, $4.1 billion in education facilities, $3.4 billion in public transit and rail, $800 million in environment and water, $310 million in State facilities, $100 million in healthcare facilities, $425 million in economic development, and more than $1.4 billion in other critical infrastructure needs for the State of Illinois; WHEREAS, the new proposed capital plan contemplates investments of more than $14.4 billion in road projects, $4.1 billion in education facilities, $3.4 billion in public transit and rail, $800 million in environment and water, $310 million in State facilities, $100 million in healthcare facilities, $425 million in economic development, and more than $1.4 billion in other critical infrastructure needs for the State of Illinois; WHEREAS, according to a study conducted by Southern Illinois University, the new proposed $25 billion capital plan would create 443,000 new full-time jobs, lead to $32 billion in economic activity, and generate more than $2.3 billion in State and local tax revenues; and THEREFORE, pursuant to Article IV, Section 5 (b) of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby call and convene the 95th General Assembly, in duly constituted quorums capable of conducting business, in a special session to commence on August 13, 2008, at 5:00 p.m., to consider the new proposed capital infrastructure plan, along with any other measures necessary to provide for the capital infrastructure needs of the State of Illinois. s/Rod R. Blagojevich Governor Dated: August 5, 2008 PRESENTATION OF RESOLUTIONS Senator Martinez offered the following Senate Resolution and, having asked and obtained unanimous consent to suspend the rules for its immediate consideration, moved its adoption: SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, AT THE TWENTY-FOURTH SPECIAL SESSION THEREOF, that the Secretary inform the House of Representatives that a majority of the members of the Senate has assembled, pursuant to the proclamation of the Governor, convening a Twenty-Fourth Special Session of the General Assembly, and are now ready for the transaction of business. The motion prevailed. [August 13, 2008] 5 And the resolution was adopted. Senator Martinez offered the following Senate Resolution and, having asked and obtained unanimous consent to suspend the rules for its immediate consideration, moved its adoption: SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 2 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, AT THE TWENTY-FOURTH SPECIAL SESSION THEREOF, that the President appoint a committee of five to wait upon his Excellency, the Governor, and inform him that the Twenty-Fourth Special Session of the Ninety-Fifth General Assembly is now duly in session in pursuance of his proclamation, and is ready to receive any message he may desire to submit. The motion prevailed. And the resolution was adopted. Senator Martinez offered the following Senate Resolution and, having asked and obtained unanimous consent to suspend the rules for its immediate consideration, moved its adoption: SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 3 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, AT THE TWENTY-FOURTH SPECIAL SESSION THEREOF, that a Committee of three (3) members of the Senate be appointed, two (2) members to be appointed by the President and one (1) member to be appointed by the Minority Leader, to approve any and all Journals of the Senate for all days of the Twenty-Fourth Special Session of the Ninety-fifth General Assembly where such Journals, prior to adjournment SINE DIE, have not been approved by the body as a whole. The motion prevailed. And the resolution was adopted. At the hour of 5:37 o'clock p.m., the Chair announced that the Senate stand adjourned until Friday, August 15, 2008, in perfunctory session. [August 13, 2008] .